CACTUS PEAR (OPUNTIA SPP) GERMPLASM CONSERVATION IN LIMPOPO PROVINCE OF SOUTH AFRICA - J. Potgieter1 & Barbara Mashope2

1Department of Agriculture, Polokwane 0700, South Africa 2Department of Plant Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa

More than 40 recognized spineless cactus pear varieties are available in South Africa, of which only a few are grown on any commercially significant scale for fruit production.  In addition to these varieties, there is a large number of potentially important accessions of which little is known. For farmers to remain competitive on international markets, varieties with improved fruit yield and quality is needed. Germplasm conservation of permanent fruit crops in most developing countries is not seen as a priority.  This is mainly due to the long-term nature of permanent crops and the costs involved in the collection, maintenance and horticultural evaluation of these germplasm accessions.  The Department of Agriculture in Limpopo has been conserving 78 accessions (including the Burbank varieties) in the largest spineless cactus pear germplasm bank in Africa at Mara Experimental Farm, Makhado.  Experience over the last 15 years has shown that scientifically sound evaluations can be made with simplified descriptors, more suitable for less developed countries.  Evaluation data collected from this genebank has been supplied to various researchers involved in cactus pear around South Africa and abroad.  In addition, plant material of described cultivars from these germplasm blocks has been used to establish other germplasm blocks in other provinces to monitor the performance of various cultivars in the different agro-ecological regions of South Africa.  Details of this simplified descriptor for cactus pear evaluation and general experience in cactus pear conservation will be covered in the paper presented.